David Krejci had three assists in his 1,000th NHL game, and the Boston Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-0 at TD Garden in Boston on Monday.
“I think a lot of players have so much respect for him and rightfully so,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “He’s a Bruins legend, and he showed why tonight. He makes everyone around him better.”
The 36-year-old forward was selected by the Bruins in the second round (No. 63) of the 2004 NHL Draft and he has played his entire NHL career with Boston. He signed a one-year contract Aug. 8 to return to the Bruins after playing last season in his native Czech Republic.
“It’s obviously a big accomplishment playing for one franchise,” Krejci said. “I’m really very proud of myself to be able to do that. I feel like this is one of those milestones you’re going to appreciate once you’re done and you look back. It’s been my home.
“I’m just glad the way the team is playing. It speaks for itself. I feel this could be a special year. We know what we have in this room; we don’t take it for granted.”
Video: PHI@BOS: Marchand picks up the rebound and scores
Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak each had two goals and an assist, Brad Marchand and Matt Grzelcyk each had a goal and an assist Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves for the Bruins (34-5-4), who are 21-1-3 at home.
Samuel Ersson made 11 saves for the Flyers (18-19-7), who had won three in a row. He replaced Carter Hart In the second period after Hart allowed four goals on 16 shots.
“[We] had a good start, gave one for free and never got caught up after that,” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. “I’m not worried about the locker room. I’m anxious to see how we play tomorrow.”
Video: PHI@BOS: Zacha rips the puck from the circle
The Flyers host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Pastrnak gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 4:38 of the first period on a tap-in after a pass from Zacha in the left face-off circle.
Zacha made it 2-0 at 15:05 when he took a pass from Krejci and one-timed a shot from above the left circle.
“He’s a super-smart player. He’s really hard-working,” Zacha, also a native of the Czech Republic, said of Krejci. “He’s a legend back home. Everyone knows who he is, and now with 1,000 games here with one team, I think he became a legend here too, which is nice.”
Video: PHI@BOS: Pastrnak scores on the set up from Zacha
The Bruins scored two goals in 46 seconds early in the second period to extend their lead. Marchand won a netfront battle and scored on the rebound of a Grzelcyk shot at 3:55 to make it 3-0, and Zacha took a pass from Krejci off the rush and scored when his shot deflected off a Flyers defenseman. Nick Seeler for a 4-0 lead at 4:41.
“When they pumped a few, it kind of deflated us a little bit.” Philadelphia forward Travis Konecny said. “I didn’t think we responded terribly but we just kind of let it get away from us.”
Video: PHI@BOS: Swayman saves all 29 shots on goal
Pastrnak one-timed a pass from Marchand in the left circle for a power-play goal that made it 5-0 at 36 seconds of the third period.
“It was a special game for [Krejci],” Pastrnak said. “We wanted to get a win and for him to fully enjoy it. It was a special night for the whole group. He’s an unbelievable player and he deserves the recognition.”
Grzelcyk settled from a cross-ice pass Charlie McAvoy and scored over Ersson’s blocker for a 6-0 lead at 8:04.
Swayman, who got his first shutout of the season, is 5-0-2 with a 1.83 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in his past seven games.
“The guys in front of me make my job easy,” Swayman said. “It’s just awesome to be a part of a team like this that shuts it down in front of me and gives me a chance to see the first shot.”
NOTES: Pastrnak has 12 points (10 goals, two assists) in the past six games. … Marchand has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in the past nine games. … Krejci is the fifth player in NHL history with at least three assists in his 1,000th game and the ninth to have at least three points. … Krejci is the seventh player with 1,000 games with the Bruins, joining Ray Bourque (1,518), Johnny Bucyk (1,436), Patrice Bergeron (1,259), Don Sweeney (1,052), Wayne Cashman (1,027) and Zdeno Chara (1,023). … Bergeron won 16 of 18 face-offs. … The Flyers had their five-game road winning streak end.
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